Most of you may think what I stated in my previous post about Wallace and the
Bristol Bird Club was out of line, disrespectful, etc. But I stand by my
statement “no one will admit it”. I am not trying to start or further
exacerbate problems, I am just stating the truth. Any active birder in our
region could easy tell what issues plagued the club, but no one was willing to
come forward and do anything to make it better (aside from the members who
remained active the past few years). Where were all the members past and
present who suddenly came out of the woodwork wanting to help reorganize the
club the past few years? I say any one of them could have helped before the
club got in the shape its in, but we all know the truth, and I stated that in
my original post. Like I stated before, I am not a member, but a lot of you
that are members, sat by on the sidelines for the past few years and did
nothing. I will not comment on this subject any further, but I stand by my
beliefs. I also feel that this needs to be said, Wallace Coffey helped me to
become a better birder despite his misgivings and I know several people that he
greatly influenced in positive way’s, not to mention his other accomplishments.
I like may of you spent many hours riding the roads with him birding. I truly
hope that the club gets organized and becomes productive for the community and
its members for many years to come, thats what Wallace attempted to accomplish,
but people chose to take the easy way out and not participate until the club
was no longer ran by him, and thats the TRUTH whether you choose to admit it or
not!!!!!! Things will never change by ignoring past issues and sweeping them
under the rug!!!!!! Just because I chose to speak my mind and what I believe to
be the truth doesn’t make me a bad person, nor does it show disrespect to
Wallace or others, it does however show the respect I had for him as a
person/mentor by calling a duck a duck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael Sanders
Bristol, VA
On Jan 18, 2018, at 1:30 AM, Richard Blanton <zsleepyz72@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Michael,
I for one choose not to look at the past except to learn from it. I too
welcome all individuals willing to contribute to building a sound club
regardless whether they have been active in the past, voiced concerns only
recently or their interest is yet undiscovered. Lastly, I welcome differing
opinions as well as differing backgrounds. However, I will depart from that
to say that I find your comments to be more than tinged with disrespect for
both the living and the deceased. Although disagreement and discussion is
very healthy, this tone is not and only perpetuates what you claim to
repudiate. I welcome any commentary you have directly to me but I hope that
further statements of this nature will be withdrawn from this public forum.
Sincerely,
Rick Blanton
Johnson City, TN
